Page 86 of Say You Remember Me
“Well, you did.” Easton let out a quiet chuckle, though his voice was thick with emotion.
We spent the next little while catching up, laughing, and sharing updates. And after the nerve-wracking day I had so far,it felt good to have my dad talking and smiling, even if he looked exhausted.
Later, a nurse came in, her ponytail swinging as she adjusted Dad’s IV. And even though I hadn’t seen her in several years, it only took a moment for me to recognize her—Amber Leighton, an old high school classmate.
“Maddie Stevens,” Amber said brightly, her voice lifting with surprise and warmth as her gaze landed on me. “Wow, it’s been years! How have you been?”
“I’ve been good, thanks,” I said, blinking as recognition clicked. She’d been a year ahead of me in high school, a friendly overachiever who somehow managed to balance cheerleading with straight A’s. “It’s so nice to see you. I didn’t know you worked here.”
“I’ve been here a few years now,” she said with a shrug, her smile unwavering. “How about you? What have you been up to?”
“Oh, you know,” I hedged. “Just…life.” My voice sounded off, even to me, but I tried to force a small smile.
Amber didn’t seem to notice. “I heard you moved recently. I guess you’re not in Ridgewater anymore?”
“No, I’m not,” I said, unsure how much more to offer since we’d never been that close. Just had a P.E. class or two together.
“Your dad did great in surgery, by the way.” Amber’s gaze shifted to Dad, her expression softening. “A real champ.”
“Thank you,” I said, relief threading through my voice. “I was so relieved to see him again after getting the news this morning.”
“I bet. Especially with everything you have going on right now.” Her tone was kind, professional, and then she got a glint I didn’t quite understand in her eyes before she said, “Oh, and congratulations, by the way.”
Congratulations?I blinked. “Uh…thanks?”
What was she congratulating me on exactly?
Lexi and Easton had been standing nearby, quietly chatting while Dad rested. But seeming to realize this catch up with Amber might take longer than expected, Lexi gave me a quick hug. “We’re going to grab something to eat. We’ll be back in a bit.”
“Okay,” I murmured, still trying to process Amber’s words as my siblings left the room.
For a second, I wondered if it was normal for nurses to congratulate family members after surgery. Maybe it was some sort of positive bedside manner thing.
But then Amber said, “I saw it on Instagram this morning. The engagement. So sweet how you two quietly dated all spring, and then you surprised him by getting a job in his building. A real-life fairytale.”
What?My stomach lurched as I realized what she was talking about.
But before I could figure out what to say, Amber, clearly oblivious to my growing panic, turned to Dad with a wide grin. “And look at that ring!” She pointed to my hand, and my heart sank as I realized I hadn’t thought to take it off before coming in. The massive diamond Ian had bought me for our charade sparkled obnoxiously in the fluorescent light. “It must feel good knowing your daughter’s set for life. With a billionaire, no less.”
“A billionaire?” Dad’s eyes snapped to mine, his expression a mix of shock and something else—wariness?“Engaged?”
Oh no. This was not good.
Was he going to have another heart attack?
My pulse thundered in my ears. “Dad, I?—”
But Amber, still cheerful and blissfully unaware of the emotional minefield she’d just detonated, gave a little laugh. “Anyway, I’m going to need some privacy to take care of the catheter situation. If you could just step out for a bit…”
“Right. Of course,” I managed to say, actually grateful for the excuse to leave and gather my thoughts.
I practically bolted from the room, my legs shaky as I stepped into the hallway. Leaning against the wall, I pressed a hand to my chest, willing my heart to stop racing.
What the heck was I supposed to do now? How could I possibly explain this to Dad without making his condition worse than it already was?
And how was I supposed to handle the fact that my so-called “engagement” to Ian was now officially out in the world?
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